Heritage Staff opportunity at Eastbridge Hospital
As followers of the MEMs Lib blog, it is possible this new opportunity may be of interest, but if not and you have never been to Eastbridge and live/visit Canterbury, it would be well worth your time going to see this establishment. For hidden in plain sight on Canterbury’s main street is the medieval gem known as the Hospital of St Thomas the Martyr or Eastbridge Hospital.
This hospital (from the Latin hospes – hospitality) was founded soon after Thomas Becket’s murder as overnight accommodation for poor pilgrims and continued to serve that purpose until the destruction of Becket’s shrine in 1538. Since then, it has served a number of purposes including as a school, and until very recently as an almshouse.
Today, it is linked to the Franciscan Gardens and Chapel next door, and these offer different ways for visitors and residents to explore important aspects of the city’s history – from medieval pilgrimage to the coming of the friars and their long association with Canterbury.
Eastbridge is looking to appoint an experienced member of staff with an interest in the history of Canterbury and keen to learn about the historic site of the Eastbridge Hospital. For those currently unfamiliar with its history, information will be provided for this fascinating archiepiscopal hospital, one of three in Canterbury and its surroundings.
Eastbridge is looking for someone who is pro-active and confident and able to actively engage with visitors to encourage them to enter and to enhance their visitor experience as they explore the vestibule, undercroft, chantry chapel, refectory, upper chapel and brothers’ lodging, all of which speak to different aspects of the hospital’s long and varied past. Canterbury attracts international visitors and therefore as well as having an interest in history, the ability to speak another language would be advantageous.
Currently this is a part-time opportunity because paying visitors are welcome to visit Eastbridge Hospital on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00–15:00, although additional dates may be added in the future.
If you are interested in this position, then please send your CV with a brief cover letter outlining why you think you would be suitable for the role to: admin@eastbridgehospital.org.uk and if not, please come and visit if you are able, it’s a wonderful survival of medieval architecture.
We look forward to hearing from you.
The Eastbridge Hospital.
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